Cary Kennedy, former Colorado State Treasurer as well as a former Deputy Mayor and Chief Financial Officer of Denver, is a candidate for Governor of Colorado in the 2018 election on Sept. 21, 2017 in Denver.

Cary Kennedy handily won the Democratic caucus for governor with 50 percent of the vote, providing her campaign a quick boost of momentum for the tough road ahead.

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis of Boulder took 33 percent of the vote and former state Sen. Mike Johnston finished with 9 percent, according to preliminary totals reported Wednesday by the state Democratic Party from 96 percent of the precincts.

Noel Ginsburg, a first-time candidate and entrepreneur received 2 percent of the vote, and 6 percent of voters did not commit to a candidate. Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, another top challenger, did not participate.

2018 candidates for Colorado governor

Kennedy, the former state treasurer, took the most votes in nine of the 11 largest counties, including Polis’ home county of Boulder. “I am so grateful for the incredible showing of support. I could feel the momentum building as I traveled the state,” Kennedy said in a statement.

Democrats touted a robust turnout for the caucus that topped 23,000, but the figure represents just 2 percent of the party’s members. And even those who picked a favorite candidate suggested their support remains fluid in the crowded race.

Democratic caucus results

The preliminary results provided by the Colorado Democratic Party reflect 96 percent of more than 3,000 precincts reporting. Hover over county for details.

Kennedy • Polis • Johnston • Uncommitted • Tie • No votes

The combination shows the race is far from settled and reaffirms that the caucus is not a reliable indicator of which candidate will win the June party primary.

The preference poll is designed to allocate delegates to the county assemblies, but the party has not yet reported the total of delegates captured by each campaign. Kennedy is the only major candidate solely using the caucus process to qualify for the ballot; the others are collecting voter signatures to earn a spot.

The county assemblies will take another straw poll, and the delegates are not bound to a campaign, meaning Kennedy must continue to build support ahead of the April state assembly, where she needs to capture 30 percent of the vote to secure a place in the primary.

Polis is considered a front-runner and favorite among liberal activists, but some are questioning his mixed record on guns and energy development. In an interview before the caucus, Polis said he is striving to reach the same threshold at the state assembly to qualify for the race. “We always view it as an organizing tool and a way to get my name on the ballot,” he said.

Johnston — who attended a caucus at the same location as Kennedy — is focused on qualifying through the petition process and submitted his signatures in February before any other candidate.

His campaign manager, Elissa Kim, issued a statement downplaying the caucus results and adding that the campaign was “proud of the hearts and minds we moved at caucus last night.”

The state Republican Party, which also held its caucus Tuesday, does not conduct a statewide preference poll to assign delegates, but some counties held informal straw poll votes to gauge support for candidates.

Updated March 13, 2018 at 10:44 a.m. The following clarification has been added to this article: Because of a reporter’s error, the story incorrectly categorized the candidates. Cary Kennedy as the only major candidate seeking to make the ballot through the caucus process.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Jesse Paul, The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton on Tuesday night for the Democratic caucus.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

Derek Hall, Special to The Denver Post

People gather at Vikan Middle School in Brighton for a Democratic precinct caucus on Tuesday night.

A Democratic state representative from Greeley who was facing a possible recall and resigned abruptly because of a criminal investigation has been ticketed for providing alcohol to a person younger than 21.

Earlier this week, dozens of Colorado middle school students celebrated the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage by discussing the future of politics with a group of female civic leaders including Denver City Council candidate Candi CdeBaca, Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former state Sen. Polly Baca.